Halkirk and Reay Primary Schools celebrated World Book Day “big style” last week with a fun-packed two days of activities.

Staff and pupils dressed in a variety of outfits, with some "amazing" home-made costumes amongst them. Many came dressed as a book character and a competition was held with two winners from each class receiving a book for the best costume. Children also received their World Book Day tokens and participated in a variety of reading activities in their classrooms.

The highlight of the celebration at Halkirk was the life-sized game of Cluedo, which the whole school participated in. Staff members were a character from the original board game, along with some new characters added in. The children had the option of dressing up as detectives, police men/women, members of the public and suchlike. Staff were allocated a room throughout the school and had three large cards.

The children were in teams and made their way around the school to ask the various characters if they had a specific card, which they could then tick off on their sheet. After a period of time a bell was rung and the whole school gathered together to discover which character had committed the murder, in which room and with which weapon. This was revealed in the “secret envelope”.

There was great excitement and everyone was on tenterhooks to find out the answer, said the headteacher, Fiona MacLeod. It was revealed that Lady Scarlett had committed the murder in the school kitchen with a stapler. To add to the excitement, one child who was dressed as a policeman stepped forward and arrested Lady Scarlett (aka Mrs MacLeod).

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Mrs MacLeod is the headteacher of both Halkirk and Reay primary schools and said “As a school we celebrated World Book Day in a tremendous way.

"It was great seeing so many super outfits of a wide range of book characters – both from pupils and staff. However, the highlight was the life sized game of Cluedo which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. The atmosphere in the school was amazing and the place was buzzing. Again, so many children dressed up and there were wee detectives and policemen and women everywhere. All staff embraced their 'game character' very well and dressed appropriately.”

Mrs MacLeod added: “All pupils and staff had a fabulous day and thank you to all parents who took the time to help their children with their costumes on both days. Also, thanks to all staff who dressed up as book characters on the first day and then as Cluedo characters the following day – you all got into the spirit of the event. A final thanks to Vivian, Lara and the library committee for organising the Cluedo game and making it such a success."

Reay Primary School also celebrated World Book Day last week with many pupils and staff dressing up in a variety of outfits with "some amazing home-made costumes amongst them", added Mrs MacLeod.

"Many came dressed as a book character and a competition was held with winners from each class receiving a book for the best costume. Children also received their World Book Day tokens and also participated in a number of reading activities in their classrooms."

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